Healthcare Patient Record and Archiving System using Cloud based Services
Posted: April 4th, 2019
Healthcare Patient Record and Archiving System using Cloud based Services
Cloud computing provides cost-effective solutions for healthcare organizations to digitally store, access and share patient health records across different locations (Kruse et al., 2016). Transitioning from traditional on-premise servers to cloud-based platforms offers several benefits.
First, cloud storage offers massive scalable storage capacity to accommodate growing volumes of medical images, test results and other files that comprise electronic health records (EHRs). This eliminates the need for expensive on-site servers and storage upgrades (Kruse et al., 2016). Healthcare providers can pay only for the storage they use each month through scalable pricing models.
Second, cloud platforms ensure patient data is securely backed up and can be easily retrieved in the event of data loss or hardware failures (Kruse et al., 2016). Natural disasters or other unforeseen events will not compromise access to vital patient health records. Data redundancy and disaster recovery services are built into cloud infrastructure.
Third, cloud-based EHR systems facilitate sharing of patient records between different departments and locations. Authorized physicians, nurses and staff can access the latest patient information from any internet-connected device using their login credentials (Kruse et al., 2016). This streamlines care coordination and supports timely clinical decision making.
Fourth, cloud-based EHRs enable patients to securely access portions of their health records through web or mobile portals (Kruse et al., 2016). Patients can view test results, medication lists, visit summaries and other health data. They can also schedule appointments, refill prescriptions and message clinical staff through these portals. This fosters patient engagement and responsibility over their own healthcare.
In summary, transitioning from on-premise to cloud-based EHR systems offers healthcare providers scalable storage, robust data protection, improved information sharing capabilities and tools to enhance patient-provider interactions (Kruse et al., 2016). However, organizations must ensure patient data hosted in the cloud complies with privacy regulations and is protected by strong access controls and encryption.
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